Fuck.This.Shit. - HARDER & With a Vengeance

First, let me congratulate the Democrats who have called for Senator Al Franken’s resignation. Well done, you idiots! If we’ve ever wondered who the spineless are among us, we now know – and we thank you for identifying yourselves.

If Franken tenders his resignation, we lose a very powerful Democratic voice, and a man who has not hesitated to stand up for our party’s interests and ideals, as well as standing up to the Republican forces currently try to dismantle our democracy.

How pathetic that so many of his own party members are willing to throw him under the bus – not based on irrefutable, or even credible, evidence of wrongdoing, but based on he said/she said accusations that have yet to produce any actual proof of anything. Moreover, said accusations only surfaced at a point when the GOP is desperately trying to defend running a credibly-accused child molester to the senate.

The Republican’s traditional political tack – “You put one of ours in the hospital, we put one of yours in the morgue” – has worked extremely well, thanks to those willing to cave in to the party that put a self-admitted sexual predator in the White House.

And what do we gain? Absolutely nothing. And anyone who believes that we are demonstrating adherence to some “higher moral ground” is a damnable fool.

I doubt there is a single Republican voter who will be impressed by Democratic “morality”. They are, after all, the same people who have voted time and again for men who have dumped their wives to marry their mistresses, have had multiple affairs, and have even been named as regular customers at brothels specializing in perverse sexual activities. Those are the people Republican voters call “good Christian men” – and rush to the polls to elect and re-elect without a second thought.

What we lose, along with one of our finest and most effective senators, is the faith of people like myself in my party and its members. My immediate takeaway from this fiasco is the soul-crushing thought that when Republicans accuse any Democrat of sexual misconduct – no matter how flimsy the “evidence”, no matter how obviously politically-motivated – there are Democrats who will abandon their own in order to placate the morally bankrupt on the other side of the aisle.

When a party full of liars accuses one of ours of lying, the response from our side should be a loud FUCK YOU! When a party that elected a pussy-grabber to the presidency accuses one of ours of sexual wrongdoing, the reply should be an even louder FUCK YOU!

We will not gain a single vote by yelling how morally superior we are (or are willing to pretend to be for the sake of political expedience). We will not gain anything politically by demonstrating our willingness to abandon the best and brightest in our ranks based on some ludicrous idea that we are showing American voters that we are somehow more moral than Republicans, because they don’t give a shit – never have, never will.

To say I am disappointed in people like Chuck Schumer, and the other Democrats who have called for Franken’s resignation, would be the understatement of the century. I am absolutely furious that even a single elected Democrat was willing to accept that incredibly flimsy, unproven allegations needed to be acted upon without any investigation – an investigation Franken himself invited the minute such accusations were made.

The message Schumer et al have now conveyed, loudly and clearly, is that when one of ours have accusations leveled against them, they are to be immediately thrown overboard. It’s hard to imagine any message being more detrimental to our party.

What will come of this? If what I have been reading on political and social media sites is any indication, Mr. Schumer and his colleagues can expect a backlash from angry party supporters who are re-thinking their campaign contributions, along with their enthusiasm to promote a party that refuses to have the backs of people like Al Franken.

Franken has worked tirelessly for his constituents, for our party, and for our country. To see party leaders like Schumer spinelessly cave-in to pressure from morally-bankrupt Republicans is beyond what I, for one, can stomach.

If you don’t have Franken’s back, Chuck, you’ve left a lot of Democrats wondering why they should have yours.

1. +a million.

Franken is MY SENATOR. I voted for him. I want to be able to vote for him again, and I do not want a bunch of spineless numpties who think their pretentions to higher virtue will make a damn bit of difference, to take my vote away from me. The GOP would elect Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy to get the votes they need for their tax cuts. Cannibals? Serial killers? Well, we don't LIKE them much, but we need the votes. So the people of Alabama get to vote for their alleged child-molester senate candidate but I don't get to vote for my senate candidate?

167. I hope you write him and tell him

And maybe suggest to him that if he is not pure enough for the Democrats, maybe run again but as an independent. Join Bernie in being a Democrat in ALL BUT name only.
I think he'd win don't you? Especially if the DNC at the very least did him the favour of not running a candidate against him.

168. I did email him to urge him not to resign, but I'm afraid

too much damage has already been done for him to run for office again. And I would never suggest that he (or anyone else for that matter) run as an independent because that would just take votes away from a Democrat and ensure a GOP win. The last thing we need is yet another Ralph Nader or Jill Stein.

2. Well said, my dear Nance, and I share your anger. You speak for me! n/t

3. Damn right

and an along with an email to Senator Franken to ask him to continue fighting I sent a scathing letter to Schumer to ask him to grow a pair.

The more i think about it the madder I get. If he was worth two shits as minority leader he would have been pushing loud and hard against this tax bill instead of entertaining ideas on Frankens resignation with zero investigation.

Dropping the ball doesn't even begin to describe it and this week while the bill is going to be rammed through he is still focusing his attention in the wrong damn place.

98. Right on target.

When David Vitter, the repub. who consorted with prostitutes who changed his diapers was charged, he went right back to work. The repubs. gave him a STANDING OVATION!! I was appalled. His wife stood beside him like a whipped puppy. She had castigated Hillary for standing by Bill, yet here she was, propping up her vile "man". The gop showed us what "family values" really means - it means for democratic politicians, not for them. Have these women come forward, identify themselves. If they are so appalled with Franken;s actions, come forward to protect others from the same fate. I think Al should fight for his job. If the president can deny all the women who have accused him, why should Franken just roll over, and resign his job?? If tRump resigns over all his accuses, THEN Franken can resign. What ever happened to "Innocent until proven guilty"?? tRump is on tape, bragging about how he treats women.

155. I sent emails to Franken

and schumer as well as the female senators who jumped on that PC train. I am particularly disgusted with my senator Kamala Harris. She got some of that RW treatment during her campaign so she should know better.

8. Why am I not surprised? n/t

51. And I can't believe it wasn't shut down!

There's CLEAR violations of the rules I've had posts pulled for. I actually agree with your post, but rules are rules I've been reminded. Good gawd, this is such a screwy system of "moderation". It's BAD when some heavy says it's bad - and good when you sing the right theme song.

I respect and admire what you share here. I'm also aware of the reverence afforded you here. I'm making an example or your post here - not you. I hope Al decides to stay. He's one of the FEW who cuts through the goo that we're often assured is in our best interests.

18. You should self-delete. Somebody is likely to alert on your post.

31. I did not alert on it

and I don't think Franken should resign, but I don't like to see rape imagery used in posts, so I do understand why someone alerted on it. I wish there were an alert level that was more like, "rephrase subject line" instead of that would just take a post completely down.

13. Democrats jumped on board real fast to bring down ACORN. And it was all based on bullshit.

Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) has sponsored another amendment prohibiting the use of federal money for ACORN in the Interior and environment appropriations bills.

Senate Democrats are largely on board with the new amendments. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) suggested to Johanns that his latest amendment would be approved by unanimous consent, meaning it would pass without a recorded vote. Feinstein noted that she was willing to accept the amendment even though her staff found no money for the group in the Interior spending bill.

20. Once again

16. Thank you Nance Greggs

this has sucker punched me. Dems going after Dems and not even giving Senator Franken a hearing??? WTF. I am truly disgusted. I called the DNC, Senator Whitehouse my Senator, Senator Franken's DC office too.

And we have those filthy repigs with their sick ass pedophiles and genital grabbers and calling their accusers liars???? WTF! This cannot stand this is our country and I am tired of them thinking for the American people they do not understand our struggles and just surviving.

19. K&R

21. Anybody remember Shirley Sherrod?

Back in 2010 Shirley Sherrod was fired from her position as Georgia State Director of Rural Development for the USDA because of remarks she made at a NAACP event that were taken out of context and reported by Breitbart. Based only on these excerpts, the NAACP said those remarks were racist, so Vilsack fired her. However, subsequent review of her full speech showed that the excerpts had been selectively edited, and that her remarks were actually about the importance of overcoming personal prejudices. She was then offered another government job but turned it down. She sued Breitbart and got an undisclosed settlement.

The point is, Vilsack couldn't wait to fire her because it was claimed her remarks were racist, and of course Democrats can't appear to be racist. He couldn't even wait until she had a chance to defend herself by presenting the whole speech and the context of the edited remarks. Nope, scared to death of criticism by the right wing, he had to get up on his ideological high horse and fire someone who didn't do anything wrong and was the victim of a right-wing smear campaign.

114. Bannon and Breitbart. This operation has their smell all over it. nt

171. The media wrote that narrative

Just like they wrote the Franken narrative.

But Democrats don’t usually challenge the narrative. It’s difficult and politically risky. It’s easier to triangulate (to borrow a Republican smear word from the 90s) upon the safest possible course of action and just hope things work out in the long run.

36. This post says it all. Well done! I agree with all of it 100%

37. The Repugs again have launched an attack

On one of the few senators willing to take on their agenda. Fuck it I am about to completely turn my back on the democratic party. I find no reason to support a party of spineless leaders. The republicans take no prisoners.

38. We don't need to have an internal war in our party like the republicans have now.

If we are to take the high road, we will have to ask Franken to resign. It won't help in the long run to lower ourselves to the deplorable level that republicans are at. Even if Roy Moore wins, we can still hold our heads high and show the good people in the republican party, that they can count on us for moral leadership. We will be there for them, so in Nov. 2018, they may decide not stay home, but instead turn out and choose to vote for the Democratic party.

47. You really think republicans will turn out for us

52. Republican women will for sure.

The Democratic party fights for women. We can't leave these victimized women out in the cold, helpless with no place to go.
I liked Al Franken, but these allegations about him are getting out of hand and taking focus off us as a party for change in 2018.

109. Oh baloney...if they were not going to turn out to stop the pussy grabber in

120. No. They won't

turn out for us.

They will vote for the guys with an "R" after their name.

Republican Pedophile? Meh, wasn't my kid. Who cares?

That is who Republican women are.

And when the next set of anonymous allegations comes up? Oh, right, we move faster to get rid of whoever is the target and even faster the time after that, until the only people we have left in the party are the ones who won't fight for anything, but will hold up their metaphorical gruel bowls and say "please sir, may I have some more" and silently sit down when they are told "NO".

58. OMG!

You really believe that the same voters who put a self-proclaimed pussy-grabber in the Oval Office are suddenly going to vote for Democrats?

We have "held our heads high" and shown the Republican party that we can be counted on "for moral leadership" over and over again. And what was the result? A Trump presidency, and an accused child-molester running for the senate.

46. Well said Nance

48. Best said. I have told Gillibrand, Harris, Schumer, and the DNC to

go to hell today. Will probably tell a few more the same tomorrow as I unsubscribe from their emails. Not another cent to any Democrat who called on Al to resign and can't demand the f**cking Moron resign or be impeached. That includes the DNA, DCCC, and DSCC.

67. Speechless

This is beyond gutless. I called my senator today to voice my complete dismay at the Democratics action in the Franken manner. I have not been this distraught since election night 2016. All of us fighting against the biggest threat to democracy in our lifetimes that the Republican Party represents looking forward to voting these assholes out of office in 11 months. Now if feel deflated. House republicans are now passing bills where domestic abusers can more easily acquire firearms! The fucking Republicans are the enemy not only of this country but to the safety of the fucking world! So of course are only course of action is to force Al Franken out of the senate.

70. Not just YES, but a HAYELLLL F***ING YES from this Dem ...

What you've said Nance is 100% spot-on, and this move towards pushing Franken out by Dems is flat wrong, on so many levels, and I for one am PISSED.

Let the Ethics committee do their damn job at a minimum. If it comes out with a censure/guilty verdict, we can re-assess at that point. The man has earned that much.

Flat out disgusted with the Senate Dems leading the charge against him right now. I'm not saying it's 'nothing' if he's guilty, but this is NOT an 'imminent threat'. It's not like he's out molesting children and it won't stop unless he's removed from his Seat.

73. I wonder how Kirsten Gillibrand

would react if she was accused of sleeping her way to the top. Maybe Chuck Schumer will be next in line for the decades old grope-a-thons he probably had. Mitch McConnell, hah! Don't get me started on the rumors about him. Hmmm... about those lesbian encounters Claire McCaskill used to be involved in. I wonder if Kamala Harris married a white guy out of political expediency. Tom Perez could have... well, doubtful.
You know how the machine works, what with that giant kiddie sex ring Hillary Clinton runs out of that pizza shop. All bullshit but, all one has to do is put it out there, anonymously and it usually gets traction.

“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” - Mark Twain

74. As a victim of sexual abuse

You have signaled loud and clear:

How pathetic that so many of his own party members are willing to throw him under the bus – not based on irrefutable, or even credible, evidence of wrongdoing, but based on he said/she said accusations that have yet to produce any actual proof of anything

What positions do you think many women and men are in when they come forward, in some cases years later? It is, in many cases, dismissed as a “he said/she said (he said)” argument. It is made very clear from the quote above where you and many others here stand.

I guess I can be glad that my attackers were caught in the act or I would be stuck in that very same situation.

83. I am more than happy to tell you

… exactly where I stand.

I stand in a place that makes me suspicious of accusers whose story falls apart within minutes of they’re telling it. That’s what happened with Tweedon, Franken’s first accuser. She was proven to be lying about many points that were key to the credibility of her tale.

I’m standing in a place that makes me suspicious of the second “accuser”, who tried to pass off a photo of herself with Franken as some kind of evidence of sexual misconduct – an alleged groping incident carried out in front of her own husband, and in front of countless fair attendees armed with cameras.

And then there are the “anonymous” accusers. They should be found credible based on what? They’re say-so, absent any other evidence?

Not all women who make such accusations are truthful. And in this case, some Democrats are more than willing to take them at their word alone, without any investigation into the facts whatsoever.

I’m not seeing much of a difference between those who dismiss an accuser’s story out-of-hand and those who dismiss an accused’s story out-of-hand.

75. So very well said! I agree with your thoughts.

Franken is indeed an irreplaceable gem and we cannot afford to lose him.

As far as gaining some imaginary social justicey high ground, nope think again - if anything this shitshow has made many lifelong Democrats say "fuck this shit" and consider seriously third parties or just giving up. Certainly many will reconsider any further donations. Why would we vote for this? I know I sure didn't.

And as far as gaining any single vote- you're right! Yep, we will actually (duh!!) lose votes because who the fuck wants to keep voting for idiots like these, who keep on self-sabotaging?! Absolutely, incredibly stupid.

I did vote for Franken, and he has my full support. I am damn well gonna remember and not forgive all of these fascist enabling morons who have either witlessly or willingly just followed along with this witch hunt.

76. K&R

78. If moore wins, we are done. forget 2018

if moore looses then dem party can recover and justify bullying franken into resignation counting on increased women support. If Moore wins, I will stop following all politics. You bet dems won’t be asking moore to resign because of his pedophilia.
This is a total failure of dems to control the message and media. What they have done is created fase equivalencies, equating franken’s deeds to those of trump, moore, etc. Instead they should be pressing hard drawing sharp distinction and pointing out differences. No one in dem party comes close to trump, bannon when it comes to media control.

90. I've been very conflicted about this since well before Franken was accused.

Years of women being put on trial for the crime of daring to tell the truth and the women who didn't dare speak out because of this injustice is infuriating & heartbreaking.

Going by the experiences of my female friends & family members, any statistic claiming much less than less than 100% of women having dealt with some sort of uninvited, unwelcome, or inappropriate sexual advance is understating the frequency with which this occurs.

On the other hand, how can justice be served if an accusation, any accusation, is taken unquestionably as proof of guilt?

And, not to dismiss any inappropriate behavior of this nature, but how can there be no recognition of the difference between various degrees of misconduct?

So, as far as this particular case at this particular moment, I don't take it lightly. But I come down on the side you've presented so well here. Thanks for your post.

94. +1,000

95. Thank you. I'm disgusted and disappointed.

Franken worked so hard to be taken seriously as a politician, now all down the drain. That thing Trump said about how he could shoot someone and his supporters wouldn't care. Well, Dick Cheney shot someone. They get away with everything and just say, "Oops."

96. Agree

I’m disgusted with Schumer, Gillebrand and all of them. I emailed them both, both my senators, letting them know that I no longer support them because they are too cowardly to fight the peril that is threatening this democracy.

108. +10000000- Watch the GOP won't seat the replacement before the tax vote and they get it through...

or maybe they decide to 'let the voters decide' and keep the seat vacant until 2020. They can do it.

"Both houses of the United States Congress have refused to seat new members based on Article I, Section 5 of the United States Constitution which states that, "Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a ...
People also ask"

122. Chuck Shumer has always been a disappointment.

There was a brief hope that he might be something different under Trump. Some of his anger seemed genuine. But, alas, no. The very kind of Democrat we (used to) rail against here when they capitulated time and again during the Bush administration. Looks like they are doing the same again under Trump. Only this time Republicans are even shadier and more underhanded than before.

127. I love this thread

129. I am heartsick.

This feels like a slow-motion dragged out version the misery of election night - watching, one by one, as the supposed blue wall states fell, waiting and waiting for some sort of reversal or reprieve that never came.

While I hope Senator Franken does not resign, I will understand if he does. To have over half your colleagues not even be willing to stand with you while the ethics hearing plays out must feel like abandonment. How agonizing it would be to walk back into the senate chamber knowing people who you thought were friends want you gone. I would feel so betrayed.

135. I lost faith in the Democratic Party a long time ago. And I haven't gotten it back.

This move will depress the 2018 turnout. My non-political friends are already tuning out, due to outrage fatigue. Now they see that the dems will turn on one of our best, based on 'allegations.' And to think there was a time when I thought the dems were the smart party. They are suckers & have been for 35+ years.

136. Thank You Nance.

138. Agree a million percent!!!

I'm so pissed off at the wimpy Democrats caving in yet again when they don't have all the facts. If this ploy works, the Republicans will have another weapon to add to their arsenal of dirty tricks. Yes, by all means, senate Dems, don't do an investigation. Just listen to anonymous accusers dug up (or even created) by republican operatives.

If Franken is willing to be investigated, let him be investigated before kicking him out of the Senate or forcing him to resign. It's the least that can be done for a senator who has done so much for the people he represents.

140. Freepers are now claiming Mueller ignored a culture of sexual harassment at the FBI

and should be fired/resign.

Our side should not be fooled by trumped up allegations against the people who are bringing the perps of really bad crimes to justice.

Of course Franken could have made better decisions. But it's not a reason to drive him out of office. Lots of women have testified and signed written documents attesting to his great work advancing the causes that help women. His confirmation hearing questions have helped expose a lot about Trump's corrupt appointees and made them squirm.

141. Killing our own party

Another agreement here. So far I've heard allegations of kissing and grabbing stomach flesh (groping). Moore is sexually assaulting teenagers in his car!!

Look how Clinton's "we go higher" mantra backfired? That was after labeling people deplorables. Noone bought it because it frankly wasn't credible. Trump took full advantage. It was stupid.

If you're a boxer and your opponent is hitting you below the belt, and there's no referee to stop it, you don't then decide to prove moral superiority by tieing one hand behind your back. They'll just bite your ear off. Stupid.

These senators are putting their own personal purity tests ahead of the countries' best interests, and the stakes are loss of democracy, death by killing medicare and social security and destruction of the fucking world.

They live in some ivory tower with lovely govt. perks like great healthcare and lucrative lobbyist jobs that await.

Down here in ugly reality, we NEED A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY. PERIOD END OF FUCKING STORY.

144. Perfect analysis

145. I agree.

The idea that insisting that Franken resign, and then expecting Trump, et al to resign (as Bernie has stated) is laughable. It shows an expectation that Republicans will be civil, have a moral compass and will play fair and by the rules.

Republicans do not and will not.

How many times does someone stand there and let another person slap them in the face, and continue to expect that the next time, they won't get slapped? That's the analogy that I apply to the Democratic actions right now.

We, as a party, need to fight for OUR own.

And another thing while I'm on my soapbox. I am SICK TO DEATH of Republicans referencing Bill Clinton. Can anyone give me the name of any of Bill Clinton's "accusers" who said he forced himself on her? Every time I hear a Republican pundit invoke Big Dawg's name, it infuriates me that there is no distinction made. My understanding is that Clinton's affairs were consensual, whether wise or unwise. Am I wrong?

There is a very big different in someone having a consensual affair as opposed to some older man going after a 14-year old minor.

158. I posted this to another post but fits in this discussion

There are women who have been brutally raped and abused who can not get justice while women who have had their asses pinched are bringing down a Senator that serves our nation in a time of need.
I am curious who the real victims are?

159. Agreed.

The difference in perception between a woman who had "her ass pinched" and a woman who was raped and/or abused is the difference between seeing women as whiny bitches and women having valid complaints that are to be taken seriously.

165. Right on Nance!!!

I am in agreement with essentially everything you said in the OP. I especially want to endorse your comments about Chuck Schumer. Lest we forget, let me remind all that in 2015, Schumer was loudly against the Iran nuclear deal. That had to be one of the fnest pieces diplomacy - on the parts Obama, Kerry, Sherman and Moniz - that I’ve seen in my life. It now even gets high accolades from the former heads of Mossad, Shin Bet, and the IDF. So Schumer knuckled under to his Netanyahu & Likud loving funders. Schumer also just endorsed Trump’s really incredibly stupid decision to move US embassy to Jerusalem - probably at the insistence of the same people. That too was really incredibly stupid. And now Schumer helps drive outbFranken (a much better senator than Schumer)!” We need to ditch Schumer. Also I haven’t much better to say about the rest of the craven senatorial fools who fell in line in wrongly in line with what really isa